The Corridor - By Wendy Loh Wan Fong

Written By: Wendy Loh Wan Fong

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Wendy Loh Wan Fong presents a powerful piece titled "The Corridor" in the Poetry category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This evocative poem explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of crossing borders. Through vivid imagery and poignant reflections, Wendy navigates the nuances of life between two nations, capturing the essence of living in a perpetual state of transition.

About the Work

"The Corridor" delves into the lived experience of a person navigating the duality of identity amidst geographical and cultural divides. The poem's mood is contemplative and introspective, examining the tensions between personal history and imposed identities. It masterfully balances vivid imagery with a reflective tone, inviting readers to ponder the nature of belonging and resilience in the face of bureaucratic and personal challenges.

The Corridor

Original Submission by Wendy Loh Wan Fong

The Corridor

Every morning I feed myself to the checkpoint.

The officers don’t ask where I’m going -

they ask where I belong,

and I have learned to answer quickly,

the way you learn not to hesitate

when a country requires your loyalty at 6 a.m.

On the Malaysian side, I am daughter, landlord, inheritor

and one cautionary tale from 1996.

On the Singapore side, I am Permanent Resident -

permanent being the optimism of bureaucrats

who have never commuted.

The Causeway holds both versions of me

above the Straits,

neither asking which one is true.

I have rehearsed my identity so many times

it has become a kind of fluency -

like Cantonese switching into English

switching into the silence required

at certain borders, certain tables,

certain interviews where they ask:

where do you see yourself in five years?

Here. Still here.

In the corridor between wanting and arriving,

between the ringgit and the dollar,

between my mother’s kitchen

and a city that will take everything I offer

and call it contribution.

The checkpoint blinks green.

I am processed. I am permitted.

I cross.

And on the other side,

I become someone else’s idea of sufficient.

But here is what the checkpoint does not record:

That I have crossed in rain and in drought,

in the year of the property loss

and the year of the award no one here knew to celebrate.

I have crossed carrying my mother’s silence

and my grandmother’s land title

and a newsletter about a world

that has not yet decided what to do with people like me.

The corridor does not resolve.

It holds.

And I have learned -

not to arrive,

not to belong,

but to remain unbroken

in the crossing.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is an esteemed platform celebrating literary excellence across diverse genres. It invites writers worldwide to contribute their voices, offering them an opportunity to share stories and insights that transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries. This competition provides a stage for creative expression, fostering a global community of poets and writers.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Wendy Loh Wan Fong for sharing "The Corridor" with us. Her participation in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 enriches the tapestry of voices exploring themes of identity and belonging. Wendy's contribution is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to illuminate the human condition.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.